No excuses: Confidence is low and we have a fight on our hands, admits Spurs star Defoe

By Sportsmail Reporter
Updated: 09:58 EST, 22 January 2009

Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe believes his team-mates lack confidence and need a major change of fortunes if they are to stay in the Premier League.

Defoe was making no excuses after Tottenham produced a shambolic display against Burnley on Wednesday night which almost cost them a place in the Carling Cup Final.

Striking out: Jermain Defoe admits confidence is low in the Spurs camp.

Despite holding a 4-1 lead from the first leg, Tottenham failed to show any kind of commitment at Turf Moor and Harry Redknapp could not believe what he was seeing after Burnley raced into a 3-0 lead.

The Tottenham manager thought his side had blown their chances of reaching Wembley, but with just two minutes remaining in extra time, Roman Pavlyuchenko and Defoe scored to break the hearts of the Burnley supporters.

Tottenham may have reached the final, but Defoe knows the performance was simply not good enough and thinks Redknapp was right to slam the players after the game.

Defoe said: 'Football is all about confidence and at the minute the lads don't look that confident. Everyone knows that is not good enough - the players know, the manager knows and we want to put this behind us.

'At the end of the day he is the manager and analyses the situation and that is for him to say. I am just one of the players and I've come in to try and do my best for the team. If he says that I am sure he wants to bring in his own players and he will do that.

'We are through to the final and that is good for everyone but we want better performances than this. We know we are better than that. This happens in cup games every year and towards the end it looked like we were going out.

'It is hard and everyone knows it is difficult for us at the moment but the Premier League is so tight, it is quite amazing.

'We want to forget about this game and look forward to the final but at the same time improve on our performances and get ready for these three or four games coming up.'

Redknapp has already stated that he plans to name his weakest team for the FA Cup fourth round clash against Manchester United on Saturday as they face a crucial six-pointer against Stoke in the league just three days later.

Defoe can understand why the FA Cup is so low down on the club's list of priorities, but he still feels they can gain a psychological advantage over their Carling Cup Final opponents if they come away with a victory and is relishing the chance to meet up with his former strike partner Dimitar Berbatov.

Defoe added: 'You have to understand why the manager is saying that. The league is obviously our priority because of the situation we are in, but at the same time if we can get through and win we would take that.

'Obviously the manager knows what Manchester United's weaknesses and strengths are and you know it is always going to be a difficult but we will go into it looking to win.

'I haven't seen Berba for a while so I am looking forward to that. It was always going to be the case that he would make an impact there because he is a great player and has scored goals at international level.'